GENESIS 36


1 Now these are the generations of Esau [toldot Esav], who is Edom.

After the experiences of the family of Abraham, and the record of a generation of faith, the record now considers the development of the Family of Sin: the generations of Esau. The word "generations" comes from a root signifying "to beget; to develop," and indicates a further extension of the Man of the Flesh. 

This commences the tenth subdivision of the book (cp. ch. 25:19). Whilst Isaac lives a life of pilgrimage and Jacob wandered in a strange land, Esau established his power, wealth and status by conquering and securing his comfort. 

..There is a contrast between Israel and Edom: between the faithful and the worldly, and no compromise should be found to unify both. As we read through the long list of strange names, we see the honour roll of the generations of Esau, the Man of Sin, and the Might of Flesh. GEM



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Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage (fleeting gratification of the flesh). Paul calls him a profane person (a fleshly minded person who does not really value the Truth). Paul recalls this incident (Hb. 12.15-17), and says though Esau sought the blessing with strong crying, there was found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears. Thus he is set forth as the type of the rejected at Sinai. **



2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan [Esav took his nashim of the Banot Kena'an]; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite [Adah Bat Elon the Chitti], and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite [Oholivamah Bat Anah Bat Tziveon the Chivvi]

Wives, sisters are very important in the Truth (Eph.5). Esau made a wrong choice based on fleshly principles, however attractive they may have been from the stand point of the flesh. They were either of the Canaanites or Ishmael and were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. Clearly they were non spiritual in their outlook and imbibed the immorality and permissivenness of the world. They transferred their abode to Mount Seir. **

**Bro Richard Lister 



The kings of Edom

31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

Edom, red, always stands for the flesh in political manifestation. Though powerful at the present there is no future in it, as Obadiah predicts (Obad. 15-16).

The Gogian confederacy (Ezek. 38) will comprise the latter-day manifestation of this power to be overthrown by the King of Israel.

The Christadelphian Expositor